Open access article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40489-026-00591-9?utm_source=researchgate.net&utm_medium=article

Abstract

Twice as many autistic people as non-autistic people are diagnosed with mental health conditions. However, there are significantly elevated unmet mental healthcare needs and an expanding need-treatment gap. This umbrella review synthesises and appraises reviews relating to autistic people’s access to, and experience with, mental health services. Searches were undertaken in nine databases in 12/22 and 03/24 (PROSPERO CRD42023395760). Reviews were included if they reported on qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods studies of autistic people’s access to or experiences with mental health services. Two reviewers independently screened 7,622 titles/abstracts and 102 full texts. The 17 included reviews focused on four areas: barriers and facilitators to accessing mental health services (k = 10), autism training, knowledge, and experience of mental health practitioners (k = 4), autistic people’s access to, and predictors of access to, mental health services (k = 5), autistic people’s experience with technology and telehealth in mental health services (k = 4). Autistic people experience a broad range of challenges when accessing mental healthcare services. Strategies to support access are urgently required to address need-treatment gaps and improve mental health outcomes for autistic people.

Citation: Adams, D., Malone, S., Girdler, S. et al. Autistic People’s Experiences with Mental Health Services: an Umbrella Review. Rev J Autism Dev Disord (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-026-00591-9

Open access article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-025-07070-w?utm_source=researchgate.net&utm_medium=article

Abstract

Purpose

Studies have consistently shown that autistic individuals often find their interactions with healthcare professionals unhelpful, indicating unmet needs. This issue is exacerbated by healthcare professionals’ inadequate knowledge about autism and communication difficulties between healthcare professionals and autistic patients. This qualitative study sought to gain a deeper understanding of clinical encounters between healthcare professionals and autistic patients, from the perspectives of clinicians.

Methods

We conducted five in-depth focus groups with 20 experienced clinicians in Child and Adult Mental Health services in Norway. We used reflexive thematic analysis to analyze the data, using an inductive approach.

Results

We found that, overall, clinicians want to be respectful and flexible in their clinical encounters with their autistic patients. We also identified four themes, including that clinicians: 1) are attentive to the varied responses to diagnoses; 2) understand the importance of adapting their communication styles toward the needs of their autistic patients; 3) recognize the need for greater focus on quality of life and autonomy; and 4) acknowledge the significant role that parents play in autistic young people’s lives.

Conclusion

Although neurodiversity-affirming attitudes amongst clinicians are encouraging, whether they are demonstrated in practice needs further investigation. The findings indicate that support for autistic patients should be more comprehensive and persist for a longer time.

Citation: Øverland, E., Andersen, P.N., Skogli, E.W. et al. “One must think autism in everything one does”: Clinicians’ Experiences of Supporting Autistic Patients. J Autism Dev Disord (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-07070-w

Open access article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13623613251399656?casa_token=1tgue-E9cEoAAAAA%3AvDhDOSZw74D3baSPsJ1FmaBHIky_xK3TBjga7FsN3g__srHtCSTcyRAhWOFZBp5ZMjpWh1kiPRYg3A

Abstract

A thriving society relies on complex systems working effectively. There are many areas in which such systems exist, including healthcare, social care, housing, employment, benefits, education and justice. These systems interact in dynamic and often unpredictable ways, with some aspects controlled at the local level, some at the regional level and others at the national level, where changes in one area can have ripple effects on others (Ngan Nguyen et al., 2025; Peters, 2014). Autistic people tend to rely on these systems more than non-autistic people do (Zerbo et al., 2019), so when they work poorly or are inaccessible, the consequences for this community are particularly severe (Brede et al., 2022; Doherty et al., 2022; Shattuck et al., 2012). For many autistic people, simply accessing these systems at all is a huge challenge, and even once they are in them, autism-specific provisions are rarely available (Turcotte et al., 2016). In this editorial, we will introduce participatory systems mapping (PSM) as an approach to understanding and specifying how to improve complex systems, highlighting the benefits for autism researchers interested in policy design, service delivery and intervention. We will focus on healthcare as a primary example, but the principles apply across different systems.

Citation: Freeth, M., Poole, D., Newell, V., & Scargill, K. (2026). Participatory systems mapping: Can this approach improve how services work for autistic people? Autism, 30(2), 263-268.

Open access article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13623613261418945

Abstract

There has been limited research into what helps to promote autistic children’s quality of life. This qualitative study, co-produced with autistic people, aimed to identify, from multiple perspectives, what helps autistic children to live a ‘good life’. We conducted semi-structured interviews with autistic adults (n = 28) and parents of autistic children (n = 29). Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identified four themes: Being accepted by others in a way that allows the child to be themselves; Finding ‘the things that light [the child]’; Having a sense of control over their own life and Physical/sensory environments matter. All themes were common to both autistic adults and parents of autistic children, with the exception of one sub-theme, which was predominantly driven by autistic adults’ responses. These findings highlight potential pathways to support autistic children’s quality of life now and into the future.

Citation: Simpson, K., Allen, C., Wheeley, E., Pellicano, E., Heyworth, M., den Houting, J., Bowen, R., & Adams, D. (2026). Supporting a ‘good life’ for autistic children: Autistic adults’ and parents’ perspectives. Autism, 0(0).

Open access article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13229-026-00706-3?utm_source=researchgate.net&utm_medium=article#citeas

Abstract

Background

Despite rising rates of autism prevalence, there remains a pressing need to enhance the quality of life for autistic people in Europe and around the world.

Methods

We conducted the 10 Points for Change survey to identify the 10 most important areas that require improvement for autistic people across the region. Data from 1,709 autistic people, parents/carers and members of autism-related organisations residing within the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) were analysed, together with autism-related differences (autistic vs. non-autistic; formal vs. no formal autism diagnosis) and gender differences (male vs. female) in results.

Results

Across groups, areas that require the most urgent changes are education, public awareness and understanding of autism, employment, and government funding for autism-specific services. Differences in results between groups reflect their specific needs and experiences. Discrimination is a crucial area for change according to autistic people with formal diagnosis of autism, whereas autistic people without formal diagnosis indicate diagnostic services as a priority for change. According to parents/carers and members of autism-related organisations, changes are also needed to improve social inclusion of autistic people. Other areas of priority for change across all groups include mental healthcare (within top 10 for autistic participants and parents/carers), support with daily living, and post-diagnostic services (the latter two within top 10 for parents/carers and members of autism-related organisations). For some areas, their identification and importance as priorities for change significantly varied with whether participants were autistic or formally diagnosed and autistic participants’ gender. Comparisons across countries with the greatest representation in the survey – Germany, the UK, France, Spain and Poland – revealed consistent priorities.

Citation: Binte Mohd Ikhsan, S., Holt, R., Ruigrok, A. et al. Priorities for change for autistic people across Europe. Molecular Autism 17, 12 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-026-00706-3